Comments on: A Pain That Gets You Right There

By: Lori

Lori — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 12:35:00 +0000

Great idea, Jen. I grabbed the laptop Friday and went to the local Burger King. Odd that a vegetarian finds respite in a burger joint, but to their credit they make a great veggie burger.

I do need one with fewer bells and whistles, Gabriella. I have it in a nice position now – the back pain went away – but if someone else sits here and moves knobs (and I don’t kill them for it), I’ll be back to the same problem. I’m trying to memorize how my legs and back are positioned in case that happens.

By: Gabriella F.

Gabriella F. — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:48:00 +0000

Wow, am I lucky.

I had the same problem--an old chair that started to make my back hurt.

Then I went to Staples and bought a big-girl chair for something like $100. Not the bottom or top of the line. Just one that looked professional and comfy.

I've never had to fuss with adjusting it, and it made my back pain go away immediately!

Perhaps you need a chair with fewer gadgets?

By: Jennifer Williamson

Jennifer Williamson — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 19:24:00 +0000

I have a laptop, not a desktop–and I switch where I sit throughout the day. At my desk, at the kitchen table, on the living room couch, lounging on the bed. I have to change positions and views periodically or I go nuts.

By: Lori

Lori — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 17:25:00 +0000

Thanks for the input, everyone! Angie, Amie, I already have a schiatic pinch, so you may be right. I'll make an appointment ASAP. I'm tired of aching! And Amie, I've considered that exercise ball. I'll give it a go tomorrow.

Devon, I may have to resort to that if all else fails. I've even considered buying my old chair back. It took a week for that one to get to me!

I don't get it either, Cyndy. Why is it the ergonomic ones cause the most agony?

By: Cyndy Kryder

Cyndy Kryder — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 16:15:00 +0000

I’m with Devon. I use a straight- backed, upholstered chair suitable for the dining room and find I have no back problems. In my free time, I’m a quilter. At my sewing machine, I use a supposedly ergonomic office chair. After sewing for a couple hours, my back aches. Go figure.

By: Amie

Amie — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:22:00 +0000

Angie’s post made me think of something else. I went through a bout of back pain a few months ago, and nothing my chiro did helped . . . I got a massage one day and the therapist told me that it was my gluteus medius muscles that were to blame, and that I should do some stretches and sit down to put on/take off my pants and shoes (the GM is the muscle you utilize when you shift your weight from one side to the other). No more back probs!

By: Amie

Amie — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:19:00 +0000

I sit on my exercise ball . . . the height isn’t ergonomically ideal, but it feels good on my back, and bouncing up and down is a good stress reliever!

By: Angie Ledbetter

Angie Ledbetter — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:18:00 +0000

You may need some chiropractic adjustments, so don’t discount a pinched nerve or something. Eeek! I used to sit on my left foot while at the desk typing, and it really threw my spine out of line. A series of treatments at a good chiro who accepted insurance co-pays finally did the trick. But, durn, I miss sitting on my foot. (Yeah, I’m weird.)

By: Devon Ellington

Devon Ellington — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:36:00 +0000

A straight-backed wooden dining room chair with a yoga bolster pillow horizontally across my lower back is the only thing that works.

Not ONE of the dozens of supposedly ergonomic or other type of office chair has ever worked for more than a few hours.